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Which gods were especially important in Vedic religion?
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Hinduism
Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma (left to right) pay homage to Mahadevi (the great goddess, in white in the form of Saraswati), attended by the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, in a painting dated c. 1750.
In the Vedic religion, the pantheon was characterized by a variety of deities, though the three most frequently invoked were Indra, Agni, and Soma.1
- Indra: The foremost god of the Vedic pantheon, Indra was a powerful deity of war and rain. He was celebrated as the king of the gods and a champion of order who famously defeated the dragon Vritra to release the monsoon rains.21
- Agni: As the deified fire, Agni served as the essential mediator between the human and divine realms. He was the fire of the sacrifice, acting as the mouth of the gods and the carrier of oblations.13
- Soma: This deity was the personification of the intoxicating or hallucinogenic plant juice used in sacrificial rituals. Soma was revered as a healer and a bestower of riches.14
Other significant figures included Varuna, a sovereign god who presided over cosmic and moral law (rita), and Vishnu, who was known for his pervasive strides across the universe. Additionally, groups such as the Adityas and deities like Rudra and Ushas also held importance within the Vedic tradition.15